Final Ratings Hit Eight-Year High For Mickelson’s Phoenix Open Win

Television ratings for Phil Mickelson‘s victory at the Phoenix Open were the highest since the last time he won the event.

Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Phoenix Open earned a 2.8 final rating and 4.3 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, up 40% in both measures compared to last year (2.0, 3.1M), and up 56% and 59%, respectively, from 2011 (1.8, 2.7M). The tournament aired on CBS in each of the past two years.

The 2.8 rating is the highest for final round coverage of the event since Mickelson’s victory in 2005 (3.0).

The Phoenix Open was the second-straight tournament to have a big increase for Sunday coverage. One week earlier, ratings increased 78% for Sunday coverage from Torrey Pines.

On Saturday, third round action earned a 1.9 final rating and 2.7 million viewers — up 46% in ratings and 39% in viewership from last year (1.3, 1.9M), and up 12% and 10%, respectively, from 2011 (1.7, 2.4M).